Update On Reports Of Daniel Bryan Being Cleared By Another Doctor
There are reports flying on the internet about Daniel Bryan being cleared to return to action. The story – stemming from Dave Meltzer's comments on last night's episode of Wrestling Observer Radio – has been picked up by FOX Sports and Sports Illustrated, among other outlets.
It should be noted that while Meltzer did say that Bryan was cleared by doctors at UCLA, he did not say that WWE cleared him. Bryan obviously can't return to action until WWE gives their approval. Meltzer said that Bryan had "a whole bunch of tests done at UCLA with their concussion specialists, and they deemed him OK."
Bryan has been out of action since suffering a concussion last April. He has maintained that his doctors have said that he is cleared to return, however WWE Medical Director Dr. Joseph Maroon is hesitant to clear him based on Bryan's history with concussions. There were false rumors of Bryan meeting Dr. Maroon this week in Pittsburgh to get cleared.
"He may get cleared [by WWE], he doesn't have to go to [WWE medical director] Dr. Maroon to get cleared," Meltzer said. "It's just a question of are they going to clear him or not, I don't have the answer. The impression is still negative, but we'll see. I don't expect him at The Royal Rumble, [but] he could be."
It should be noted that Bryan was cleared by his doctor last summer, however the decision ultimately rests with WWE. Bryan noted last October in an interview with IGN that WWE was planning to send him to a third doctor.
"I had a concussion in April, and obviously they're very hyper-sensitive about concussion stuff right now," Bryan said in the interview with IGN last fall. "One neurologist who specializes in concussions – who was the neurologist for the Super Bowl last year – cleared me with no limitations. All my testing came back excellent. But the WWE's medical doctor is skeptical, because of my history of concussions and that sort of thing. So they will not clear me. So now, we have two doctors: one saying no, one saying yes. They're going to send me to a third doctor at some point in the near future and that doctor will decide my fate.
"The WWE doctor Joe Maroon [is] amazing and highly respected in the concussion field, and if they send me to a third neurologist who's also highly respected in the concussion field and they say literally no...well, then is it really smart to go against two doctors? I get all fired up...and then I'm like, maybe that's not the best thing for me and my family going forward."
Meltzer posted the tweet below in regards to some of the reports floating around about Bryan being cleared:
Wow, that's so unreal. Talk about misunderstanding something said very clearly. https://t.co/4JsOkFAPNY
? Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) January 21, 2016